Speak Up and Oppose the Clean Water Rule Repeal

Speak up for headwater streams! The Trump Administration has begun the process to remove critical protections for wetlands and headwater streams through the repeal of the Clean Water Rule, putting drinking water for more than half (54%) of all West Virginians at greater risk for pollution.

Created in 2015, the Clean Water Rule clarifies which water-bodies are protected under the Clean Water Act. Without the Clean Water Rule 8,390 miles of streams in West Virginia would be put at risk.

Send a letter to the EPA letting them know that you oppose any action to repeal the Clean Water Rule! Comments are due August 28, 2017.

FREE Paddle & Picnic on Labor Day

You’re invited to WV Rivers’ Elkspedition Picnic & Paddle! Bring your own boat and join a flotilla of kayaks, canoes, rafts or anything else that floats for a celebratory3.5-mile paddle on the Elk River on Labor Day, September 4. The final destination is Coonskin Park in Charleston, where paddlers and community members will be treated to a FREE old-fashioned BBQ picnic, featuring live music with The Dread Pirate, Roberts! Pre-registration is required. Register here.

Paddler check-in begins at 12pm at the Columbia Pavilion at Coonskin Park; the picnic will follow immediately at approximately 3:30pm. Email ktyner@wvrivers.orgfor details.

Rather not paddle and just want to picnic? Save your seat at the FREE picnic, register here. Registration is required to join the picnic.

The Elkspedition Picnic & Paddle is part of the Waterkeeper Alliance SPLASH event series and benefits the West Virginia Headwaters Waterkeeper, a program of WV Rivers.For more information on the SPLASH Event Series, presented nationally by Toyota, please visit www.splashseries.org.

List of Impaired Streams in WV, Your Comments Needed

Every 2 years the WVDEP is required to update it’s list of impaired streams. Streams on the list, called the 303(d) list, are mandated to undergo further analysis for restoration efforts. This month, you have the opportunity to comment on the state’s draft of the 2016 303(d) list. Learn more about the streams included on the list here.

WVDEP is accepting comments through 8/21. Keep an eye on your email, and WV Rivers facebook page, we’re reviewing the list and will be sharing more information on how to comment soon!

WV Rivers’ Safe Water for WV Program Updates

Summer of Safe Water Action in Jefferson County

It takes a community to protect drinking water and restore rivers and streams. Supporting local collaboration is the focus of three projects in Jefferson County. Safe Water Shenandoah, coordinated by WV Rivers’ Terri Burhans, pictured left, supports watershed and civic groups helping Charles Town implement its source water protection plan, or SWPP.

The local team has funded efforts to help expand watershed education in schools and produce educational events and materials.

Greg Finch, pictured right, is WV Rivers coordinator for Safe Water Harpers Ferry, where local agencies and groups will develop projects to support the utility’s SWPP. Greg is meeting with community leaders and organizing a workshop slated for September.

In June WV Rivers launched a collaboration among the land conservation community and the county’s three utilities. The project Protected Lands, Safe Water,a joint effort of the West Virginia Land Trust and WV Rivers, will create an action plan for using land conservation to protect water. Pictured left is Dr. Brent Bailey, executive director of the West Virginia Land Trust, giving a presentation on the project.

Free Community Safe Water Celebration in Buckhannon

You’re invited! Join West Virginia Rivers Coalition and our community and agency partners at our Safe Water Celebration, afree community event on August 24, 2017 at 5:30pm at the Buckhannon River Walk.

The event is a fun way for folks to learn about source water protection and local efforts to protect drinking water supplies. Learn more.

We hope the stories told in Headwaters inspire you to make a financial contribution to WV Rivers. Right now, your donations are critically needed. There are attempts at both the federal and state level to rollback water protections and sell off public lands. Please donate today, without your support West Virginia’s rivers and streams won’t have a strong advocate in their corner.

Your Photos Can Make a Difference for the Elk River

We’re calling on you to submit your photos of the Elk. From the headwaters high in the Monongahela National Forest to its confluence with the Kanawha, share your photos of the Elk’s beauty and of folks having fun on the river! We’re especially interested in photos of the public put-ins and take-outs along the Elk River Water Trail.

Your photos can help WV Rivers assess the lingering impacts from the 2016 flood on the Elk River; identifying areas that still need help.

It’s so easy to share photos! Download the free app, Water Reporter, and post your photos of the Elk River by August 23. Photos shared through Water Reporter will be used to create a photo map of the Elk. Get involved! Learn more and download Water Reporter here.

Help Collect Water Quality Data in the Mon. National Forest

Join WV Rivers and Trout Unlimited for the WV-VA Water Quality Monitoring Program‘s 3rd Watershed Snapshot Day! This event brings together volunteers to monitor as many sites as possible within the northern Monongahela National Forest. The data collected will help establish baseline conditions and show changes in water quality over time. Last year volunteers collected data on 51 streams!

Volunteers will work in teams, each team will receive a map and detailed directions to monitoring sites and each participant will receive a bagged lunch for the field. Once volunteers return from monitoring they’ll be treated to a picnic. Check out the event flyer to learn more.